Swiss Companies Debiotech and Valtronic Announce Partnership Agreement on the JewelPUMP for Diabetic Patients

Announcing a global manufacturing effort to produce a small disposable skin patch for insulin infusion.

Lausanne and Les Charbonnières, Switzerland, February 21, 2013 – Both Swiss companies, Debiotech SA and Valtronic SA, announced today that they have entered into an exclusive partnership agreement regarding the manufacturing of the electronic Controller unit for Debiotech's novel insulin "JewelPUMP^TM". Representing the most advanced use of microfluidic MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) technology in diabetes treatment, the watertight pump can be mounted on a disposable skin patch to provide continuous insulin infusion and is controlled by a dedicated smartphone device incorporating a BGM (blood-glucose meter), thus enabling substantial improvements in the treatment efficiency and the quality of life of diabetic patients.

The highly miniaturized disposable insulin pump combines Debiotech's expertise in insulin delivery systems with Valtronic's experience in manufacturing high-quality and ultra-miniaturized electronic devices.

"The collaboration with Valtronic in Switzerland and in the US is an integral part of our objective to provide the best product manufactured by the best companies in the world," said Dr. Frederic Neftel, President and CEO of Debiotech. "We are now engaged in a large scale production effort to make sure the JewelPUMP will be made available to every diabetic patient in the soonest possible time to ensure a better Quality of Life, while also improving reliability and performance of insulin delivery with a pump."

"The collaboration with Debiotech on the JewelPUMP fits our strategy extremely well of participating in the most exciting medical device products, while contributing to patient safety and therapeutic efficacy," says Martin Zimmermann, President and CEO of Valtronic. "At Valtronic we strive to bring our expertise to highly innovative projects like the JewelPUMP and ensure a full commitment and support to our Partner. "

"In just one year, we have enjoyed an outstanding working relationship with Valtronic which achieved the goal of making the JewelPUMP a reality for the diabetes community and this Agreement represents the natural outcome of such successful collaboration," says Laurent-Dominique Piveteau, Business Development Director at Debiotech.

“The development of the partnership with Debiotech and the continuous support to achieve the level of quality required to manufacture the JewelPUMP is an example of success for Valtronic and we are now proud to prepare for the product market launch,” says Alberto Bottà, Assistant Vice President Principal client Advisor at Valtronic.

The JewelPUMP is smaller, thinner and lighter than currently available insulin pumps, while incorporating double the amount of insulin (5mL), and is a nearly invisibly skin patch which can be worn for a 7-day treatment. It is directly controlled by the patient from a dedicated cell-phone remote control device, which also serves as a telephone and a BGM (Blood Glucose Meter) on a secured Androïd platform.

The JewelPUMP incorporates a Microfluidic technology manufactured by ST Microelectronics, the world leading MEMS manufacturing company, to provide better control of the administered insulin doses, while detecting potential malfunctions of the pump to further protect the patient. The JewePUMP is composed of a disposable pump-reservoir unit and an electronic Controller unit that can be used for up to two years. The Controller unit that will be manufactured by Valtronic integrates a number of functionalities, both for the operation of the pump unit and the highly secured communication with the remote smartphone device, as well as a large number of sensors and actuators (e.g. vibrator and acoustic alarm, temperature sensor, humidity sensor, accelerometer and cannula detector).

During the ATTD Congress in Paris, starting on February 27^th, Debiotech will demonstrate the commercial version of the Jewel Pump which is currently on the way to the CE marking.

About Debiotech

Debiotech has specialized, for over twenty years, in the research and development of innovative medical devices in the field of implantable and external drug delivery systems for the treatment of severe diseases such as diabetes, renal failure, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. The Company's products are based on micromechanics and nanotechnologies as well as novel technologies. Debiotech has numerous exclusive license agreements with leading companies in the medical device and pharmaceutical fields and holds over 500 patents worldwide. Further information on Debiotech can be found at www.debiotech.com and specific information on the JewelPUMP^TM at www.jewelpump.com.

About Valtronic

Valtronic is an advanced technology “Mechatronics” manufacturing solution company. We develop and produce complete and valuable integrated electronic and mechanical products. Among Valtronic’s customers are the leading global suppliers of medical devices and implants, diagnostic equipment and sensitive aerospace and industrial companies. For over 30 years, Valtronic has helped hundreds of companies to launch thousands of Class II & III medical devices and advanced miniaturized electronic assemblies from our facilities worldwide. Further information on Valtronic can be found at www.valtronic.com.